[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board recently urged legislators to finally pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA, HB804, SB1718). Here are a few excerpts:
“It’s time for the Legislature to get charged up about passing a comprehensive energy bill that would help the environment, assist ratepayers, benefit communities that need jobs and help workers displaced by the shift from fossil fuels.”
“Here’s just one reason: Illinois has not only gone over the so-called “solar cliff,” but it has also crashed on the ground like Wile E. Coyote. Because CEJA was not enacted in time, payments will be yanked away for solar installations that have already been started around the state. Others won’t begin. Fossil fuels will be burned unnecessarily.”
“Here’s another reason: Illinois has missed the window to protect ratepayers from unnecessarily paying higher power bills to support fossil fuel companies. The Trump administration is the culprit, but it will take years to unwind that on the federal level. CEJA would throw ratepayers a lifeline more quickly.”
We must pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act to create equitable jobs, lower electric bills, and hold utilities accountable. Read the full editorial here and learn more at ilcleanjobs.org.
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, Mar 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tim Kirsininkas at Capitol News Illinois…
The Illinois House Human Services Committee advanced two bills Tuesday, one allowing special needs students to stay with a school program past their 22nd birthday and another allowing the use of certain federal nutrition benefits to purchase feminine hygiene products.
House Bill 40, introduced by Rep. Frances Hurley, D-Chicago, would allow special needs students to receive special education services through the end of the school year that they turn 22 years of age.
Under current state statute, special needs students can be removed from special education programs as soon as they hit their 22nd birthday. Hurley said the bill would be key to beginning to increase equity for special needs students that can already be left behind by a state system not properly equipped to support them.
“I don’t think they should be punished for their birthdate,” Hurley said.
* Raymon Troncoso at Capitol News Illinois…
Legislation backed by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group would require farming equipment manufacturers to make software required for repairs available to consumers for purchase.
House Bill 3061, introduced as the “Digital Right to Repair Act” in February by Democratic Rep. Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg, would mandate that manufacturers, by 2022, provide farmers with the same diagnostic materials available to official repair providers. It would also require the manufacturers to make parts necessary for repair, including software, available for purchase.
The legislation comes after the release of a report by the U.S. PIRG that alleges farmers are unable to sufficiently repair tractors purchased from John Deere and other manufacturers because they withhold the software necessary to do so.
“The Association of Equipment Manufacturers, of which John Deere is a prominent member, promised that by 2021, they would give farmers the necessary tools to fix their machinery. However, Deere has fallen short of that commitment, so farmers – and all Americans, who rely on them to produce food – are worse off,” U.S. PIRG Education Fund Right to Repair Advocate Kevin O’Reilly said in a release announcing the report.
* Bill becomes law, law implemented by rule…
The state is no longer charging interest on late child support payments that are made through the Department of Healthcare and Family Services unless it’s ordered by a court, and all of the outstanding interest charges that those parents owed have been zeroed out.
A spokesman for the agency said in an email that the total accrued interest penalties that were eliminated amounted to just over $2.7 billion.
DHFS made that announcement Monday, saying those interest charges fell disproportionately on low-income families and people of color. […]
Illinois had been one of only 15 states that automatically charged interest on late child support payments. But, in a bill passed last May and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker into law in August, the automatic interest penalty was repealed and DHFS was given authority to adopt administrative rules to determine how, and if, it would charge and enforce interest penalties.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Mar 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
When does a town become a city? For Chicago, that was exactly 184 years ago, when the state of Illinois officially gave it the bump to city status using the exact language you’d expect from a law written in 1837: “That the district of country in the county of Cook in the state aforesaid … shall hereafter be known by the name of city.”
Similar to how this anniversary doesn’t matter much to anyone outside of Chicago today, it wasn’t a big deal across the country back then. Martin Van Buren was sworn in as the United States’ eighth president on the same day, which dominated national headlines. And unlike the Midwest metropolis it is now, the newly anointed city of Chicago had a population of just 4,500 at the time.
* The Question: Your birthday wishes for Chicago?
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President Obama Wants Lawmakers To Stop Gerrymandering
Thursday, Mar 4, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Are we going to continue with political maps hammered out in backroom deals or are our lawmakers ready to strive for the ideals set out by President Obama?
“The movement for fair maps will determine the course of progress on every issue we care about for the next decade.” - August, 2019
“I think people don’t completely appreciate how much gerrymandering affects the outcome [of elections],” Obama said. “You can draw a district that almost guarantees one party is going to win instead of another because you have voter histories and you have a sense of where people are typically going to vote.” - September, 2020
“I’d love to see changes at the state level that reduce political gerrymandering.” - January, 2015
“Regardless of our party affiliations,” he says, gerrymandering is “not good for our democracy.” - July, 2018
“We have to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters and not the other way around.” - January, 2016
Learn more at CHANGEIL.org.
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* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 1,740 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 42 additional deaths.
- Bureau County: 1 male 50s
- Champaign County: 1 male 80s
- Cook County: 2 males 50s, 2 males 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 2 female 80s, 3 males 80s
- DuPage County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s
- Kane County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 60s
- Lake County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
- LaSalle County: 1 female 80s
- Macon County: 1 male 80s
- Madison County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s
- McLean County: 1 male 70s
- Monroe County; 1 male 80s
- Morgan County: 1 female 70s
- Ogle County: 1 male 80s
- Peoria County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s
- Sangamon County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 80s
- Stephenson County: 1 female 100+
- Will County: 1 female 30s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s, 2 males 60s, 1 male 70s
- Winnebago County: 1 female 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,193,260 cases, including 20,668 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 73,990 specimens for a total of 18,389,512. As of last night, 1,200 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 260 patients were in the ICU and 128 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from February 25–March 3, 2021 is 2.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 25–March 3, 2021 is 2.9%.
A total of doses of 3,563,775 vaccine have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago. In addition, approximately 443,700 doses total have been allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities. This brings the total Illinois doses to 4,007,475. A total of 2,993,543 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 330,328 for long-term care facilities. The 7-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 78,942 doses. Yesterday, 93,302 doses were administered in Illinois.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
…Adding… As a commenter rightly points out, these are the lowest hospitalization and ICU numbers since IDPH started keeping track in mid-April.
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* The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association live-tweeted testimony today by Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter to the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee about the city’s convention business…
@BobReiterJr from @chicagolabor during IL Senate Tourism Cmte. hearing: Decisions made now will impact the #travel industry for this summer and beyond. Without a roadmap, current regulations are causing events to be canceled as far out as 2022.
@BobReiterJr: Other states like Nevada & New York are moving ahead w/ changes to allow for events to reopen. We have been working w/ health experts on protocols and believe events should resume w/ 50% occupancy cap and no maximum as long as precautions are implemented.
A balancing act needs to be had that protects people’s health but also need to look at what needs to be done to get people back to work. 25-30,000 union hospitality & convention workers are out of work & are making the decisions b/w paying for healthcare, mortgage or buying food
@BobReiterJr: We can’t exist in @GovPritzker’s phase 4 limbo & just hope that regulations are going to change. We need a ramp. How do we make incremental progress as pandemic winds to a close. Help us plan a path forward that protects workers but allows them to get back to work
@BobReiterJr: @McCormick_Place is the largest convention center in the United States. The convention industry was born in Chicago. Tourism is going to come back as the cabin fever wears off.
@BobReiterJr: The conversation (on reopening the convention industry) with @GovPritzker’s office needs to be had right now.
@SenatorSara6: Since our last hearing, 2 weeks ago, Chicago has lost three giant conventions - all cancelled. Growing concern for the potential revenue loss for the state. The Colorado dial telegraphs to those convention planners that we’re on the move, getting ready.
@BobReiterJr: We need to look towards the future. Can’t focus on previous benchmarks as vaccines increase. We don’t need capacity limits. We need a percentage based occupancy cap based on the size of the space where the event is.
@SenatorSuzy: Right now, with @GovPritzker’s Restore Illinois phase 4 and 5, it’s “all or small.” We need a gradual ramp up to larger events and gatherings.
Video is here.
Also, don’t nitpick typos. Live-tweeting ain’t easy. Stick to the topic at hand.
* I asked the governor’s office for a response. Here’s Jordan Abudayyeh…
The Governor has always said as the science evolves the response to this pandemic will follow what medical experts deem appropriate. The Governor shares the eagerness to resume normal life and as vaccine becomes more readily available looks forward to the next phases of this response.
* Related…
* National Restaurant Association Show, Inspired Home Show cancel McCormick Place events
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Mercy Hospital may stay open after all
Thursday, Mar 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WBEZ…
Historic Mercy Hospital in Bronzeville, which is slated to close by May 31, is under a non-binding agreement to be sold.
That’s according to an email Mercy CEO Carol Schneider wrote to employees today and obtained by WBEZ.
Mercy’s owner, national Catholic hospital group Trinity Health, plans to sell Mercy on the Near South Side to Insight Chicago, a non-profit affiliated with a Flint, Mich.-based biomedical technology company.
“Insight Chicago will operate Mercy Hospital as a community hospital and will maintain ICU, Medical/Surgical, OB (non-high risk), Acute Mental Illness and Comprehensive Physical Rehabilitation categories of services,” Schneider wrote. “Insight Chicago will continue to operate Mercy Hospital’s ED as a basic Emergency Department.”
* Sun-Times…
Mercy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, saying it was losing staff and experiencing “mounting financial losses” which challenged its ability to maintain a safe environment. The move came just two weeks after a state review board rejected Trinity Health’s proposal to open an urgent care and diagnostic center on the South Side. The same board unanimously rejected a plan in December to close Mercy.
Mercy — which was the site of a deadly shooting in November 2018 — was set to merge with three other South Side hospitals struggling financially, though that plan fell through due to a lack of state funding.
Until the pending deal with Insight Chicago is signed, Mercy’s overall plans for the hospital remain unchanged, the hospital said. As of now, it’s expected to cease operation May 31. If the agreement is finalized before then, Mercy will help Insight Chicago in transitioning services, according to the statement.
* Tribune…
“We plan on a hospital that meets the needs of this great community, while leveraging regional expertise of our health system,” said Dr. Jawad Shah, president and CEO of Insight, in an Insight news release. “We are committed to a thoughtful community engagement process to ensure access to care for Chicago’s diverse populations while achieving financial solvency.”
…Adding… Jordan Abudayyeh…
The Governor believes that healthcare is a right, not a privilege and that’s why his administration has worked tirelessly to exhaust every legal, legislative and administrative option to preserve healthcare access on the southside. The administration is hopeful that any potential buyer would provide the necessary services underserved communities need. And we encourage any buyer to meet with community stakeholders and legislators to better assess how they can work together to achieve better health outcomes for the community Mercy hospital serves. The state of Illinois has supported safety net hospitals throughout this pandemic, and with the General Assembly’s passage of health care transformation legislation, has even more tools to help providers meet the needs of the communities they serve.
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* Set the Wayback Machine to 2014…
After pulling strings to get his daughter into Walter Payton College Prep, Bruce Rauner, a Republican candidate for governor, became one of the elite Chicago public high school’s biggest benefactors.
The Rauner Family Foundation gave $250,000 to the Payton Prep Initiative for Education on Dec. 14, 2009 — about a year and a half after Rauner called then-Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan to overturn his daughter’s rejection for admission, records examined by the Chicago Sun-Times reveal.
Rauner’s gift was the largest the not-for-profit foundation had received up to that point. It amounts to nearly 30 percent of all the money the group has gotten during its first five years, according to records the Rauner and Payton charities have filed with the state.
Rauner’s gift to the Payton Prep Initiative came two months after his foundation gave $500,000 to the Chicago Public Schools Foundation, run by the school system’s top administrators. His foundation previously had given money to that organization.
* Now…
Former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner made a $250,000 campaign contribution to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week after seniors in the uber-wealthy Florida Keys enclave where Rauner owns a home were among the first in the state to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in January.
Rauner’s connection to the favorable treatment first was reported Wednesday by the Miami Herald, which obtained a memo the management of the exclusive Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo sent to residents noting that its medical center had vaccinations for residents age 65 and over while most Floridians struggled to access the shots. DeSantis has used the state’s vaccination program to open special distribution sites in select communities while skipping state and local vaccine registration logs, various Florida news outlets have reported.
“Over the course of the last two weeks, the Medical Center has vaccinated over 1,200 homeowners who qualify under the State of Florida’s Governor’s current Order for those individuals who are 65 years of age or older,” the Ocean Reef Club’s message to residents read, according to the Herald. “We are fortunate to have received enough vaccines to ensure both the first and second for those vaccinated. At this time, however, the majority of the State has not received an allocation of first doses of vaccines for this week and beyond, and the timing of any subsequent deliveries remains unclear.”
In its report, the Herald stated that contributions to DeSantis’ political fund surged amid the disbursement of vaccines, noting the only contributions the Florida governor received from Key Largo were from Ocean Reef residents.
* And…
Since DeSantis started using the state’s vaccine initiative to steer special pop-up vaccinations to select communities, his political committee has raised $2.7 million in the month of February alone, more than any other month since he first ran for governor in 2018, records show.
A spokesperson for the governor did not immediately respond to email and telephone messages, but, after the story was published, DeSantis spokesperson Meredith Beatrice said that the governor was not involved in selecting the Ocean Reef Club for the early vaccine distribution. She did not explain how the club obtained so many doses ahead of others. […]
By hand-selecting the communities, DeSantis allows residents to bypass state and local vaccine registration systems and go directly through their community organizations, like the Medical Center at Ocean Reef. […]
The effort has brought scrutiny from DeSantis’ critics as the state’s vaccine distribution appears to be inequitable. By the end of February, only 5.6% of those who’ve been vaccinated in the state are Black, even though Blacks account for 17% of the state’s population, state records show.
He might want to bump up his apparent standard tip. $250,000 in 2014 is equal to $279,568.31 today. /s
…Adding… React…
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* Background is here if you need it. Tribune…
Illinois Democratic leaders on Wednesday night selected U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson as their new state party chairman and the successor to embattled former House Speaker Michael Madigan, who held the post for 23 years.
In a vote of the 36-member Democratic State Central Committee, with each member’s ballot weighted by the number of votes cast in the 2020 March primary, Kelly got 52% to 48% for Chicago Ald. Michelle Harris, 8th.
Harris’ loss was a blow to first-term Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who sought to consolidate power in the party with Madigan leaving the political scene. Pritzker backed Harris, as did U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Both are seeking reelection in 2022.
Kelly’s selection reflected a desire to decentralize party power after Madigan as well as fears that Pritzker, a multibillionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, would wield control of party purse strings. Kelly had the backing of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, the state’s senior senator and No. 2 ranking Democrat in the chamber.
* Sun-Times…
Kelly, who is Black, garnered 51.7% of the weighted vote to become chair of the party, narrowly besting Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) during a virtual meeting of members of the state party’s leadership ranks.
Kelly and Harris, who is also Black, thanked each other and promised to work together after the evening vote.
Harris went into the meeting with more committee members publicly supporting her candidacy, but fell short with 48.3% of the total.
In a statement, Harris called Kelly “an esteemed colleague” and said “it is time to move forward and we will do that together.”
* NBC 5…
She will now ascend to the role held for more than 20 years by former Illinois State Rep. Michael Madigan, who also resigned his seat in the house after stepping down as Speaker earlier this year.
Kelly is now the first Black woman to be elected to lead the party, according to her office.
The State Central Committee consists of two members from each of Illinois’ 18 U.S. House districts. Each of the 36 members received a weighted vote based on the number of votes cast in their district during the 2020 Democratic primary in the state.
Kelly had received the support of several prominent politicians, including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Harris had received support from Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Gov. J.B. Pritzker, but ultimately Kelly prevailed in the tight race.
* WCIA…
Though Pritzker congratulated Kelly for her win on Twitter, her win was a blow to his efforts to assert more influence over the party as its largest financier.
Kelly rebutted a line of questioning from former Senate President John Cullerton who raised “a major, major problem” with her ability to raise campaign funds for the state party while serving as a sitting member of Congress.
“To be a chairman and not be able to raise money is really a limitation,” Cullerton said, warning that “the Republicans are going to have a field day with this,” and “donors are going to be investigated by the Federal Election Commission.”
“Every memo from every lawyer said I can chair the party,” Kelly responded. “I just have to follow the federal regulations, so it’s not that I can’t raise money at all. That’s simply not true.”
* WTTW…
Cullerton suggested that Harris and Kelly split the job, with Harris raising funds for state and local races and Kelly serving as the party’s public leader.
“This is a quagmire,” Cullerton said.
Kelly rejected his offer.
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Open thread
Thursday, Mar 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Heh…
Keep it Illinois-centric and polite in comments, please. Thanks.
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Robin Kelly wins DPI chair
Wednesday, Mar 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Preliminary vote total…
…Adding… Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association (IDCCA) President Kristina Zahorik…
“On behalf of all 102 County Democratic Party Chairs and the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association, I would like to congratulate our new State Democratic Party Chair Robin Kelly. Chair Kelly brings a wealth of experience to the table and has been a friend of the IDCCA. We have a lot of work to do before 2022 and we look forward to working with her. We are confident Chair Kelly will lead our Party to victories throughout Illinois.”
…Adding… ILGOP…
Tonight, the central committee of the Democratic Party of Illinois met to elect a new party Chair after the reign of Mike Madigan has come to an end. Unfortunately for Governor JB Pritzker, his hand-picked candidate (and the candidate Madigan also supported), Chicago Alderman Michelle Harris, was unsuccessful in her bid losing to Congressmen Robin Kelly.
The Illinois Republican Party would like to provide our sympathies to Governor Pritzker as he is in the midst of a long string of high-profile political losses. It really is sad.
As a reminder…
Tax Hike Amendment - DEFEATED
Governor Pritzker’s signature proposal - a progressive tax that was supposed to plug our budget hole and pay for all of his other promises - was soundly defeated by Illinois voters last November. Pritzker spent big on his tax hike gambit and came up short.
Senate President Kimberly Lightfort - DIDN’T HAPPEN
Pritzker and his team, including Senators Andy Manar and Heather Steans, worked overtime to get the Illinois Senate Democrats to choose Kimberly Lightford as their next Senate President. Team Pritzker lost that battle too when Lightford lost to Senate President Don Harmon. Bad feelings remain and Manar and Steans have resigned their seats.
$1 Billion Small Business Tax Hike - VOTED DOWN
Governor Pritzker thought he was walking into friendly territory when he tried to get his super-majority Democrat legislature to pass a $1 billion dollar tax hike via a bill that “decouples” Illinois tax law from federal tax changes under the CARES Act. He was mistaken. It failed.
Tonight’s loss was no different than the others. Governor JB Pritzker expended considerable political capital to get his way but just wasn’t able to pull out a win.
We would like to send him a sympathy card for his many losses. See you in 2022 for another one!
…Adding… Robin Kelly…
Congresswoman Robin Kelly Elected Chair of Democratic Party of Illinois
Makes history as the first black woman elected to lead; Vows to Unite All Democrats
Remarks as Delivered to the Democratic State Central Committee
“Thank you Chairwoman Yarbrough, Tonight we made history together. We as Democrats are at our best when we have vigorous debate, and then come together for the betterment of the party and our country. I want to thank the members for the State Central Committee for your support and vote of confidence. I look forward to working collaboratively with you as we strengthen our party and work together to build a bench across our 102 Counties.
As President Obama said “We can disagree without being disagreeable”.
And that’s more important than ever.
Our Democracy is under siege. Yes, in State after State Republicans are trying to roll back voting rights, suppress the rights of people of color to vote, and trample on what makes Democracy sacred: the right of all people to participate in the process.
I was in the House chamber, trapped in the gallery when a violent mob invaded the greatest symbol of democracy in the history of the world. I stood with my fellow members, elected representatives of the people, as insurrectionists, fed the big lie, for the first time in American History attempted to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.
Yes, we all felt personally afraid. But beyond the threat to personal safety was a fear for the very fabric of our democracy. We’ve always said democracy is fragile, that it must be fought for. But has that ever been more true than tonight?
If we are going to preserve, protect and defend the government of the people, by the people and for the people, we must change. We must fight back. We must take on the big lie, the insurrectionists, the fox news, the q anon’s head on. And with your help, the same Illinois party that elected the first African Woman to the United States Senate, sent the first African American President to the White House, and had so many other firsts, will lead the way once again.
My friends, we start from a position of strength. Illinoisans have trusted us with the Governorship, both US Senators and every State-wide office. We have not just majorities but supermajorities in both legislative houses. We made and continue to make strong progressive gains throughout the State. But we know we need to do more if we are going to protect these gains and build upon them. Together, we can move our democratic party forward. Starting tonight.
* Gov. Pritzker…
* Ald. Michelle Harris…
“Congresswoman Kelly is an esteemed colleague and I am proud to work with her as our next Chair and the first Black woman to lead our Party,” said Ald. Harris. “It is time to move forward and we will do that together.”
* Mayor Lightfoot…
“Today, Illinois Democrats made history by electing Congresswoman Robin Kelly as party chair. Rep. Kelly has the experience and energy to lead Democrats to victory in 2022 and beyond.
“Chairwoman Michelle Harris and Senator Cristina Castro are also accomplished leaders and well qualified to lead our party. The race to fill this seat was at times contentious and I know that Rep. Kelly will work closely with Chairwoman Harris and Sen. Castro to bring Democrats together and build a better, more modern party. I look forward to helping support Rep. Kelly’s work to build a strong, inclusive Democratic Party of Illinois.”
* Senate President Harmon…
Congratulations to Congresswoman Robin Kelly on being elected to lead the Illinois Democratic Party. Her exemplary service in Congress during such trying times, background in local government, upbringing in Peoria as the daughter of a small business owner and postal worker, along with her compassion for people are exactly the qualities Illinois Democrats need right now to lead us and move our party forward. I’m ready to work together with her on behalf of Democrats across Illinois.
* Speaker Welch…
“I congratulate Robin Kelly on her election as chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. I am confident we will work together to offer voters a bold agenda for Illinois: more resources for our public schools; social and economic justice for Black, Indigenous, and communities of color; improved access to health care and social services; and a safe and resilient recovery from this pandemic. With her at DPI, we will build on an already strong and diverse Democratic coalition, so I look forward to working with her.
* Sen. Cristina Castro…
“I was honored to have the support of my fellow Latino elected officials when I put my name forward to become the next Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, so I was proud to give voice to Latinos throughout Illinois when I cast my vote for Congresswoman Kelly. For too long the Illinois Democratic Party has focused singularly on Illinois House races, but with Congresswoman Kelly as the new Chair we’re now in a position to refocus the Party, expand the gains Democrats have made in the collar counties, and win races up and down the ballot. She has what it takes to represent our Latino community and Democrats in the suburbs as she moves our entire state forward.”
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* BGA…
Amid protests this summer over police brutality and civil rights, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot in the middle of the night removed statues of Christopher Columbus that had become a focal point of the demonstrations.
Lightfoot also formed a committee to conduct a thorough review to assess if other public art should be removed or changed and promised the newly formed Monuments Project Advisory Committee would begin “an inclusive and democratic public dialogue” about the future of Chicago’s internationally known public art collection.
But during its first six months of work, the committee’s deliberations were kept secret. In fact, the mayor’s monuments committee was designed that way.
“What’s said here, stays here,” is a message city officials delivered to the committee members at their Oct. 14 meeting, according to a slim, 24-page packet of committee agendas and minutes records City Hall released recently to the Better Government Association.
The committee is tasked with identifying any public monuments linked to white supremacy and injustice that “warrant attention” and could be removed. It ultimately flagged 41 problematic artworks, including statues of Columbus as well as Presidents Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant and William McKinley.
But despite Lightfoot’s transparency pledge, there was no public notice of the committee’s six meetings, no record which 30 committee members attended or any details about what they recommended during roughly 12 hours of online deliberations.
The public had no opportunity to observe or offer any input at the private meetings — none of which were recorded in audio or video form, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Communications Director Christine Carrino said.
“The Chicago Monuments Project advisory committee is not a ‘public body’ and therefore the [Open Meetings] Act’s requirements do not apply to it,” Carrino told the BGA in a statement, explaining the city’s refusal to release committee recommendations and reports, attendance rosters and any recordings of its first six meetings.
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* Center Square…
A Republican congresswoman is defending her state lawmaker husband from what she says are attacks full of lies about the Jan. 6 capitol riots. Illinois Democrats are demanding an investigation.
Hundreds of thousands of people were in Washington D.C. Jan. 6 when the U.S. Congress was certifying the presidential election. A riot then ensued at the capitol building. Hundreds of people face criminal charges because of the violence and trespassing.
Video and other images on social media show state Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, was in Washington D.C. Jan. 6 attending rallies. Pictures also show a truck purportedly owned by Miller with a decal for a group called The Three Percenters.
State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, filed House Resolution 132 condemning Miller and claims he violated his oath of office. It has the support of 35 other Democrats, including House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside.
“Miller participated, and publicly promoted his role, in a rally that led to a violent insurrection of the Capitol of the United States of America, which resulted in the death of United States citizens, including members of law enforcement,” the resolution says. Miller “has continued to publicly support The Three Percenters, a para-military, anti-government hate group identified by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center as having the goal of overthrowing the United States government through violent revolutionary tactics.”
Miller couldn’t be reached for comment.
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, told WMAY Wednesday her husband was nowhere near the riot, and they do not condone violence.
“He attended with constituents the rally,” Miller said. “It never crossed his mind once to be violent. We don’t advocate violence. We stand for rule of law and anybody that was violent or broke the law should be arrested and prosecuted, but he had nothing to do with that.” […]
The congresswoman said Morgan’s resolution is the latest in a series of increased targeting from Democrats.
“The attack is not just on him or on me, but it’s on all of my colleagues, we are all getting vile, vile messages and death threats,” Miller said. “They’re misrepresenting and lying about us, taking things out of context.”
It’s not just elected Republicans Miller said Democrats are going after.
“Their goal is to scare conservative Christians, especially, to be quiet and don’t get involved,” Miller said. “And I can say they may be coming for us today but they’ll be coming for you tomorrow. And I want to tell everybody to grow a backbone and get involved and speak up.”
Not one mention in that article about her Hitler comment. Nor this…
Notice he’s standing in front of a 3 Percenters banner in that first video.
* Center Square appears to be rapidly moving well beyond its stated purpose…
The focus of our work is state- and local-level government and economic reporting. A taxpayer sensibility distinguishes our work from other coverage of state and local issues. As a result of this approach, our readers are better informed about the focus of state and local government and its cost to the citizens whose tax dollars fund governmental decisions.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Mar 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Email to Statehouse media from John Patterson, spokesman for the Office of the Illinois Senate President…
As the Senate begins to transition back to in-person activities, we have implemented a testing requirement that applies to employees, staff and members. This would also apply to media when we return next week.
We have implemented the University of Illinois saliva test, which is done twice a week to ensure anyone in Senate facilities is negative for COVID-19. This is the same process used at the University of Illinois. Essentially you show your negative test result email to gain access.
All online access will continue for anyone not wanting to be tested. The ILCA offices will continue to be available regardless. This testing requirement is only for in-person in Senate facilities (offices, committees, Senate chamber). Health and safety guidelines do also remain in effect. That means even with the testing, the press boxes are limited to three spots, as is the overhead TV gallery.
The cost of the test is $30 per test per person. Media outlets would be required to cover the cost. (Yes, I know I buried the lede.)
Here’s how the system works. There is testing on Monday with results coming later that day that clears you to be in the Senate on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, there is another round of testing, the results of which clears people to be in the Senate on Thursday and Friday. Testing is done on the Capitol Complex.
The end result of this is people can come to work at the Senate knowing that anyone they come in contact with has a current negative status. Anyone not wanting to test can utilize remote participation and access.
Of note, this testing and process is being done at UIS, so any PAR students should already have access to free testing under this same system.
For next week, the media would be the only outside entity that would be accommodated under this system. It is envisioned as expanding, but we are still working through this transition.
To anticipate a question, the public gallery would be open to media who are not credentialed for the press boxes but whose personnel have gone through the COVID testing.
The Senate is scheduled to return to the Capitol next week for Tuesday and Wednesday and possible Thursday. That would mean anyone wanting to cover proceedings on Tuesday and Wednesday would need to be tested on Monday. This is the policy for anyone to be in the Senate offices, committees or chamber.
Paying $30-$60 a week to exercise my 1st Amendment rights isn’t the best news I’ve ever heard, but I’ll deal with it.
* The Question: Your thoughts on the Senate’s testing mandate?
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* Latest COGFA fiscal year to date report…
Excluding borrowing related activity, through the first two-thirds of the fiscal year base receipts are up $2.719 billion. In addition to December’s surge in federal sources, that growth also reflects the timing of income tax receipts related to the filing deadline extension. Through February, combined net income tax receipts are up $1.982 billion. While over half of those gains continue to be attributed to the shift of FY 2020 final payments into early FY 2021, very respectable underlying base income taxreceipting must be recognized as well. Also impressive is the continued positive trend of sales tax receipt performance. While overall levels of growth are fairly modest at 2.4%, given that rate reflects a post-pandemic versus pre-pandemic period, salestax performance continues to impress.
All of the other revenue sources combined have declined a net $143 million. While exceptional performance has been seen from inheritance tax and insurance tax, those gains have been more than erased by lower public utility tax receipts as well as timing related to one-time court settlement proceeds receipted last fiscal year, shown in the “other sources” category.
Overall transfers are off considerably, down $858 million, reflecting the lack of riverboat gaming transfers [$195 million] significantly lower Income Tax Refund transfer levels [$336 million] as well as lower other miscellaneous transfers [$438 million]. With another comparatively strong month of receipting, federal sources are up $1.562 billion year to date.
* But here’s Greg Hinz…
Illinois’ economy will recover along with the nation’s as COVID-19 pressures lift, but it’s going to be a slog for us, with the state unlikely to return to its previous employment level until at least 2023.
That’s the bottom line of a new forecast prepared by Moody’s Analytics for the Illinois Legislature’s fiscal unit, a report that is pretty dour, projecting Illinois in the long run will continue to markedly lag the nation and even the rest of the Midwest until it gets its finances in order and reverses its population drain. […]
However, the report adds: “The success of the state’s economy, and particularly that of the Chicago metro area, will depend on the strength of its tech sector, including computer systems and design and biotechnology. Tech companies that can meet the needs of Illinois’ manufacturing base will also be successful.” Logistics is a strength, too
Ultimately, it says, “Illinois has what it needs to remain a top business center, as long as it can solve the fiscal problems that are eroding its edge in the competition for talent, jobs and capital.” The state has a high educational attainment level, superb transportation links and below-average costs.
The forecast is here.
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Corporate board diversity study released
Wednesday, Mar 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Speaker Welch…
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Corporate Board Diversity, Inclusion, and Representation Report for 2020 marks the first summary of gender, racial, and ethnic makeup across companies based in Illinois. With the availability of this data, equity and diversity goals are one step closer to being realized. As a strong advocate for the creation of this report, Speaker Chris Welch offers his following statement:
“This report marks a pivotal moment for Illinois and the business community to realize our shared goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2019, I sponsored this bill because I knew we could not effectively address racial, ethnic, and gender inequities without a clear picture of the existing environment. Today, we have the findings for 2020 that show we need to collectively do better. As the report stated, women are still underrepresented in leadership roles with only 67 percent of companies having two or more women serving as directors. Additionally, only 35 percent of companies have two or more non-white directors. We need to continue to push high standards for a diverse workforce and hold companies accountable that are not taking these goals seriously. This report illustrates where we need to focus our attention and empower our underrepresented communities. As Speaker, I am looking forward to using these findings to guide our next legislative steps to fulfill our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Background
In 2019, Speaker Chris Welch sponsored Illinois House Bill 3394 that required companies and corporations based in Illinois to report the racial and gender makeup of their board to the Secretary of State’s office. Additionally, this bill required the University of Illinois systems to analyze the data and issue a report with their findings.
* From the report…
Illinois corporate boards average about two female directors per board and female directors comprise nearly 21 percent of the average board’s total membership.4 These figures are generally aligned with broader gender equity and inclusion goals, which advocate that firms should have at least two women on the board and should aim to have at least 20% female representation. Consistent with this, 67 percent of Illinois corporations have two or more female directors. […]
Among Illinois corporations that provided information about the white/non- white status of each director, 19 reported having zero non-white directors. Another 24 firms reported having one non-white director. 10 firms reported having 2 non-white directors each, while 13 firms reported having 3 or more […]
For the average firm, non-white directors comprise about 15 percent of the board membership. By comparison, non- white (including Hispanic) individuals comprise nearly 40 percent of the population of Illinois. Appendix B presents data on non-white representation for all firms with available information. Appendix B also includes a measure of proportional representation, which accounts for non-white groups’ representation among workers in each firm’s primary industry sector.
Taking a closer look at specific race and ethnic groups reveals more subtle features of racial and ethnic underrepresentation among Illinois corporate directors. Black and African-American individuals are particularly underrepresented among corporate directors in Illinois. Among firms that provided information about the racial and ethnic composition of their board, 33 firms (52 percent of the sample) reported having zero Black or African-American board members. Another 26 firms (41 percent) reported having one Black director (Figure 3). For the average board, Black directors comprise about 6 percent of the total board membership. By comparison, Black residents comprise 13.8 percent of the total population of Illinois.
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Our sorry state
Wednesday, Mar 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Moody’s…
Moody’s has published new research (attached) noting the State of Illinois (rated Baa3/negative outlook) will set another record for the 50 states when its adjusted net pension liability (ANPL) exceeds $300 billion in financial reporting this year, reflecting the June 30, 2020, funding position of its five pension plans. With historically low interest rates, this increase in liability will closely track other states, but the higher ANPL connected with the state’s June 2021 financial reporting underscores Illinois’ growing pension challenges. Even with the substantial increase in long-term liabilities, however, the near-term funding and cash-flow positions of the state’s pension systems will remain relatively unchanged.
“The new liability is based on the aggregate ANPL of Illinois’ five pension systems, which reached $317 billion as of June 30 last year, a 19% jump from the prior year that was driven largely by falling interest rates,” said Ted Hampton, Vice President at Moody’s. “The FTSE Pension Liability Index, a high-grade corporate bond index Moody’s uses to value state and local government pension liabilities, fell to 2.70% as of June 30, 2020, from 3.51% the prior year.” (In comparison, the aggregate net pension liabilities reported under Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) rules by the state’s five pension systems grew to $154 billion from $145 billion as of June 30, 2020, reflecting a weighted average discount rate of 6.74%. The results will appear in the state’s audited financial statements covering the period ending June 30, 2021.)
With a state GDP decline estimated at 2.5% in 2020, Illinois’ ANPL amounts to roughly 37% of economic output, up from a range of 28% to 32% over the previous four years. As illustrated in our most recent survey, Illinois’ pension liabilities are the highest among the 50 states, and the state’s liabilities and fixed costs for pensions, debt service and retiree healthcare (or OPEB) are at or near the top by almost any measure. Illinois also allocates about 30% of its budget to retirement benefits and debt service, a “fixed-cost” ratio more than three times the median for states.
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Caption contest!
Wednesday, Mar 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I was watching the House Adoption & Child Welfare Committee hearing on Monday and couldn’t help but notice the cool Zoom background used by Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn). She told me she obtained the image from the House Democrats, which is not what I expected to hear considering the HDems’ past issues with newfangled things like the Internet and touch-tone phones. “It’s a little more engaging than my white wall,” the legislator said. Here’s a screen shot…
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* Reader email…
I’ve been on PUA unemployment since July (it was backdated to March  and suddenly and unexpectedly last night my unemployment seems to have stopped. Apparently, this happened to thousands of others as well.
As you can see from screenshots below of my account, I was not paid this week and given no correspondence as to why even though my claim should have seven more weeks thanks to the covid relief Congress passed before Trump left office. Other people with the same issue did receive an email from IDES explaining why they were cut short and I’ve included a screenshot of that as well. Unfortunately, IDES never made any of this clear from the onset.
In a Facebook group specifically for PUA Unemployment in Illinois, many other people are reporting this problem. It seems as though IDES is claiming either due to a metric or configuration in the CARES Act, PUA claims were exhausted at 50 weeks even though congress extended the federal benefit through March (11 weeks). Everyone was completely blindsided. The bigger issue is that in order to get extended unemployment in President Biden’s bill in the senate you have to receive at least $1 WBA from your state. If IDES kicks so many of us off now, I’m pretty sure we won’t qualify for that new extension.
I’m self-employed with children at home whose schools still have not fully reopened. One daughter is remote hybrid and the other daughter I’m personally homeschooling fulltime because remote learning doesn’t work for her. I haven’t been able to receive any self-employment income since this pandemic and unemployment has helped keep my family afloat.
I called constituent services for Senator Duckworth and Durbin and emailed Stephanie Kifowit and Linda Holmes but no response yet.
I know IDES has had a lot of issues and I’m hoping this is newsworthy.
I thought it was quite newsworthy and reached out to the governor’s office right after I read the email. I was told that the state’s unemployment rate had dropped below the threshold where the state was allowed by the federal government to make those payments. That doesn’t excuse the fact that people believed they were left in the dark, though.
* An IDES press release was issued today…
Because Illinois’ unemployment rate has dropped, federal rules now prohibit individuals from seeking seven additional weeks of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), a new federal effort to cover individuals who did not qualify for regular unemployment and which largely covers those who are self-employed.
“This is precisely why I’ve encouraged Congress to set out long-term rules that help the people most hurt by this pandemic, and why it’s imperative that they pass something immediately that corrects this gap,” Governor JB Pritzker said. “Our federal leaders must come together around a solution, and we will be ready to help people get the benefits they need to get through this pandemic.”
According to unemployment data published by the federal government, Illinois’ unemployment rate is now below the threshold for the state’s High Unemployment Period (HUP) to be active, and individuals no longer qualify for additional weeks of benefits provided during HUP. Under federal law, when a state is in the HUP, there are seven additional weeks added to PUA eligibility, as well as seven additional weeks added to Extended Benefits (EB) eligibility under state law. As a result of Illinois’ unemployment rate dropping, under state and federal law, the seven additional weeks for both programs are no longer available.
The maximum number of weeks available to PUA claimants has reduced from 57 weeks to 50 weeks. Additionally, extended benefits (EB) for regular state unemployment insurance benefits reduced from 20 weeks to 13 weeks. Federal law provides regular unemployment insurance benefit recipients with a transition to added weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits but is currently silent with regard to extra assistance for PUA claimants.
PUA claimants who have exhausted the 50th week or more have been, or will be, notified they will have reached the maximum number of weeks allowable under federal law. Barring additional federal action or extensions to federal unemployment programs, PUA claimants who have exhausted the maximum number of weeks will no longer be eligible to collect unemployment insurance benefits.
The Department is closely monitoring any action from the federal government to extend PUA benefits, in addition to the other federal unemployment benefits programs, set to expire on March 13, 2021. As was done with the CARES Act and the Continued Assistance Act, IDES will publicly provide individuals with programmatic updates, changes, and information pertaining to unemployment programs as they are made available by the federal government and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Those with questions or in need of assistance with unemployment benefits at this time are encouraged to visit IDES.Illinois.gov.
…Adding… From Rep. Kifowit…
Hi Rich, In regards to your post. That concern came into my office just before 1pm yesterday and it was sent over to the IDES Liaison. This morning at 11:15am we got a response from the IDES Liaison and responded to the person at 11:21am. Our office, as I’m sure all our offices, is working very hard to reply to our residents within 24 hours with an initial response. Thank you for bringing to light the struggles of many families.
…Adding… From Sen. Holmes…
Hi Rich, I want to thank you for bringing attention to this issue and to this constituent for reaching out to my office late yesterday afternoon. We are doing everything we can to get them the assistance they need. I have facilitated multiple conversations with my colleagues and IDES on the many unemployment issues we’ve seen over the past year, with a focus on getting help to constituents across the state. This pandemic has turned so many families upside-down. There is still work to be done, and I will continue to work with and put pressure on IDES to get people the benefits they need.
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* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 2,104 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 44 additional deaths.
- Bureau County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
- Clark County: 1 male 70s
- Coles County: 1 male 70s
- Cook County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 60s, 2 males 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 90s
- Crawford County: 1 female 70s
- DeKalb County: 1 male 80s
- DuPage County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 90s
- Edgar County: 1 male 70s
- Fulton County: 1 male 70s
- Henry County: 1 male 60s
- Iroquois County: 1 female 90s
- Kane County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 60s
- LaSalle County; 1 male 60s
- Macoupin County: 1 male 60s
- Madison County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
- Marion County: 1 male 70s
- McHenry County: 1 male 70s
- McLean County: 1 female 70s
- Montgomery County: 1 male 80s
- Peoria County: 1 female 70s
- Randolph County: 1 male 70s
- Rock Island County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s
- Saline County: 1 male 60s
- Sangamon County: 1 female 90s
- Washington County: 1 male 60s
- Whiteside County: 1 male 70s
- Will County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 80s
- Winnebago County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,191,520 cases, including 20,626 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 80,854 specimens for a total of 18,315,522. As of last night, 1,260 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 275 patients were in the ICU and 138 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from February 24–March 2, 2021 is 2.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 24–March 2, 2021 is 2.9%.
A total of doses of 3,392,925 vaccine have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago. In addition, approximately 443,700 doses total have been allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities. This brings the total Illinois doses to 3,836,625. A total of 2,900,341 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 328,795 for long-term care facilities. The 7-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 84,202 doses. Yesterday, 82,449 doses were administered in Illinois.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. Information for deaths previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
* Nursing home industry press release…
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and long term care facilities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year, released a report today showing nursing homes in the U.S. have seen the lowest number of new COVID cases since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started tracking back in May 2020, suggesting that the vaccines are working.
Recent CMS data shows that nursing homes have seen an 82 percent decline in new COVID cases among residents since the peak during the week of December 20 of last year when there were more than 30,000 new resident cases. In the same period of time, community cases in the general population dropped by 46 percent, showcasing that vaccines are having an impact in protecting the elderly population in nursing homes.
* I asked for Illinois-specific info…
The feds began requiring reporting through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) last May, and so the best usable data begins then, though we had state specific reporting requirements prior to that which was hosted on the DPH website. Per the NHSN data the final week of May saw 728 new cases in centers across the state. This dropped significantly over the summer, following the same trend line the general population was seeing, with a low point of 134 new cases in the last week of July. New case occurrences also followed the general population trendline over the fall and winter, with a high mark of 2057 new cases the first week of December. Long term care wasn’t in the first wave of priority 1A for the vaccine, though we were part of 1A, and saw the first vaccine clinics in our centers beginning the week of December 28. Numbers have taken a nosedive following the completion of the clinics, with the last two weeks reporting 212 and 116 new cases respectively.
The number of deaths followed a similar trajectory. There were 293 in that last week of May, 32 the first week of August, 367 in the middle of December, and now 41 in the most recent week of completed reporting.
That’s a 94 percent drop in cases from the peak in December and an 89 percent decrease in deaths.
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* The Republicans don’t have a single statewide officeholder in Illinois. They are vastly outnumbered in the congressional delegation, where their party is in the minority in both chambers. And, of course, the GOP is in the super-minority in both state legislative chambers.
There is something that Illinois Republican Party leaders can and should do to help their state right now, though: Encourage their fellow Republicans to get vaccinated….
But a new national poll found that vaccine hesitancy may be more political than racial. The poll, conducted by Civiqs, found that 56% of white Republican voters reported they would not accept a vaccine or weren’t sure, compared to only [29]% of Black voters who answered the poll. Other polls have found that as many as 35% of Black Americans have reported vaccine hesitancy.
The poll found that 41 percent of white Republicans said they would not take the vaccine and 14 percent were unsure, while 15 percent of Black voters said they won’t take the vaccine and 14 percent were unsure.
* And it’s not just one poll. CBS News survey of 1,500 adult citizens in the U.S. was conducted by YouGov between February 21-24, 2021…
* Monmouth national poll…
Democrats are most eager to get the vaccine as soon as possible (72% when combined with those who already got the vaccine) – much more so than independents (51%) and Republicans (39%). More than 4 in 10 Republicans (42%) say they will avoid ever getting the vaccine if they can, which is significantly higher than the number of independents (25%) and Democrats (10%) who feel the same.
* Colorado registered voters also taken last month…
Only 29% of Republicans, however, said they’d get a coronavirus vaccine, according to the poll. Meanwhile, 57% said they would not get inoculated while 12% said they were undecided.
* Oregon…
According to polling figures released in January by Oregon Business & Industry, 48% of Republicans in the state were willing to get vaccinated compared with 88% of Democrats.
* Michigan…
The poll released Tuesday also found that while large percentages of self-identified Democrats and independents plan to get vaccinated, nearly half of Republicans — 47% — do not, compared with 46% who plan to be vaccinated.
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Schimpf on governing, campaigning
Wednesday, Mar 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WMBD interviews gubernatorial candidate Paul Schimpf, a former state Senator…
“What I’m running on is responsible government, safe communities and economic growth through the free market. What I mean by responsible government really is a government in Illinois that’s doing what it’s supposed to be doing. We should not be passing laws in Illinois unless it’s done in a transparent manner where people know what the legislation is before they vote on it,” Schimpf said.
So, he’s running on legislative process? Governors have enough to do without also trying to insert themselves into the role of House and Senate parliamentarian. Ask Bruce Rauner, Pat Quinn and Rod Blagojevich how that theoretical approach to governance worked out.
* On winning the GOP primary…
“You have to be able to reunify our Republican party, you have to give the voters a contrast between yourself and J.B. Pritzker, that’s not just a policy contrast, that needs to be a life story contrast as well. The third thing you have to do to win as a Republican in Illinois is you have to get crossover votes. I think I’m the Republican candidate who can do those three things. I’m confident that when the voters take a look at the Republicans who are running in Illinois, I think they’re gonna believe I’m the candidate who can beat Gov. Pritzker,” Schimpf added.
Easy to say, but one wonders how he’ll respond to things like the House resolution filed to condemn Rep. Chris Miller (R-No Relation).
* He does have a good story to tell, though…
“We need someone who can work together across the political and social spectrum. I was a State Senator for four years, but before that, I spent my adult life in the Marine Corps. If you’re gonna be successful in the military, you have to be able to work with people across the political and social spectrum. You can’t be afraid of tackling challenges,” Schimpf said. “I’m gonna bring leadership to the table. That’s probably my biggest contribution I can bring to the State of Illinois to try and solve our States problems in a manner where we try to work together and rely on solutions and not political power to ram stuff through.”
* More from the News-Gazette…
Schimpf said it will be important to contrast his “life story” as a child of two teachers who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and became an officer and lawyer in the Marines with Pritzker’s life as the multibillionaire scion of the Pritzker family fortune.
“Voters will ask, ‘Who understands me?’” said Schimpf, who predicted voters will choose him if he can attract enough money in campaign donations to get his message out.
* Back to WMBD. This message sounds good…
“You look at the budget that Gov. Pritzker passed 2 years ago, it was his first year in office, he touted a fact it was a bipartisan budget. A lot of the Republican leadership voted for it, I did not. The reason I did not vote for that budget is because it increased spending across the board,” Schimpf said. “We had record revenue coming in, but anywhere we could increase spending, we did increase spending. That just doesn’t reflect the reality that Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. We need to get our spending under control, it’s something the people of Illinois expect us to do and it’s something I’m going to make my number one priority as governor.”
Spending is up because of pensions and health care. It’s been that way for decades. That spending pressure has put the hard squeeze on all other programs, which has resulted in the hollowing out of state government. But the people who argue that the state should simply slash pension benefits and kick people off of health care appear to have never met a Democratic legislator in their lives. If it was as easy as they constantly claim, it would’ve already been done, for crying out loud. Read the room, people.
Schimpf appears to be advocating for cuts to state programs to make up the difference. In other words, back to the squeeze. But that’s a far more legitimate (if politically risky) debate to have than the magic beans approach which so many pundits here appear to love and embrace, partly because it involves zero actual risk of facing reality.
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* From a legal memo prepared for US Rep. Robin Kelly…
In its most basic interpretation, Section 300.62 would prevent you from raising or spending soft money in state and local elections. In addition, the DPI would be prohibited from spending soft money to the extent that you directly or indirectly “controlled” DPI.
Again, that’s Kelly’s own attorney saying this.
So, unless they come up with a way to make the state party chair completely and utterly powerless, the party can forget about raising and spending soft money. Millions of dollars, perhaps tens of millions, will be left on the table. And that’s why organized labor is watching this contest with growing dismay.
* More from that legal memo…
I previously recommended that, once we have set forth the proposed new decision making structure for DPI, we seek an advisory opinion from the FEC with a set of questions and a list of proposed activities for you as Chair. On this course of action, both Mr. Svoboda [the DPI attorney] and I agree. Getting the FEC’s imprimatur will resolve any possible ambiguity in the regulations and will provide a safe harbor for DPI.
So, the state party will to have to wait until the FEC decides to issue an advisory opinion before they can do anything? What could possibly go wrong?
* And what will US Rep. Kelly be doing if elected state party chair?…
Senator Durbin’s longtime aide Bill Houlihan… sits on the State Central Committee, and said Kelly would make a great spokesperson for the party.
“That was not something that Chairman Madigan was interested in doing,” Houlihan said. “I think Robin Kelly will be very good at getting around the state.”
A strong party spokesperson would be a good thing. And I fully agree with Houlihan that Robin Kelly would be great at that job. But they’re not supposed to be electing a spokesperson. They’re electing a new chair.
It’s a no-brainer that Gov. Pritzker and his peeps will be actively involved in the party if Michelle Harris wins. He’ll effectively have control and that understandably rubs some folks the wrong way. They have a perfect right to that position.
But who will be controlling things if Kelly prevails? Will they set up special decision-making committees? Who will appoint the members? Who will set the agenda? Because, according to her own attorney (and despite what this WCIA story implies), she cannot have any direct or indirect party control if they want to raise and spend soft money…
Dueling legal memos outlined federal election laws and limitations that would prevent Kelly from raising “soft money” or controlling the party coffers on her own, but members of Congress in Colorado and Georgia have taken the helm of their respective parties by delegating those restricted activities to other party leaders.
“We’re willing to make those changes,” Houlihan said. “It says that more people are going to be involved in both the fundraising as well as the spending of the money.”
Georgia’s situation is new since that state party chair was only recently elected to Congress. And with the legit compliance questions, it may not be a legally safe model to follow.
* Politico…
Taking the reins of the party also means controlling money. Given Pritzker’s wealth, he’s expected to fill party coffers and in turn have a big say on how funds are spent. Kelly, because of her position in Congress, would operate a more decentralized operation that likely would see Durbin’s top aide, Bill Houlihan, playing a role in governing.
Hmm. But you’d think Houlihan would also be limited in what he could do since he’s an employee of the US Senate.
* Back to Politico…
Players to watch: Board of Review Commissioner Mike Cabonargi is the big question mark because he holds a large number of weighted votes. He’s a longtime friend of Pritzker’s — the two were part of a brat pack group of Democrats that worked on elections outside of the ward system. But Cabonargi also worked for Durbin and has remained loyal to the senator.
Lauren Beth Gash is a former state rep who now chairs the Lake County Democratic Party. Like Pritzker, she served on the Illinois Human Rights Commission and years ago worked on staff for Sen. Alan Dixon.
Kristina Zahorik, a former senior legislative aide for the late Sen. Paul Simon, holds a powerful position separate from the state committee. She’s president of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association.
Cabonargi will likely be with Kelly, I’m told. Gash is expected to be with Kelly as well. We’ll see. Durbin has been the force behind the IDCCA, so I’ve always just figured Zahorik would be a Kelly vote.
You can watch events unfold by clicking here at 6 o’clock tonight.
*** UPDATE *** Speaker Pelosi offers kind words for a caucus member…
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* BuzzFeed last month…
Paris Hilton on Monday told Utah lawmakers about the abuse she suffered at multiple treatment centers for troubled teens while urging them to pass legislation requiring more regulation of the programs.
Hilton, 39, spent time in three of the facilities as a teen, including nearly a year at Provo Canyon School, where she said she was “verbally, mentally, and physically abused on a daily basis” when she was 16.
“Although Provo Canyon School marketed itself as a premier treatment center, it was as if hell itself was on Earth,” Hilton said. “I cried myself to sleep every single night, praying I would wake up from this nightmare.”
Provo Canyon School, which remains open, has faced widespread accusations of mistreatment, including beating, drugging, and sexually abusing clients, and cutting them off from their families so they can’t get help.
* Synopsis excerpt from HB219…
Makes changes in provisions concerning a school board’s use of time out and physical restraint, including providing that isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint may be used only under certain circumstances, prohibiting the deprivation of necessities and prone, mechanical, and chemical restraint, and requiring a meeting with school personnel if requested by the parent or guardian, the provision of information to parents and guardians, and written procedures. Effective immediately.
* Ms. Hilton filed as a proponent of the legislation. Here’s the legislative affairs director for the National Association of Social Workers’ Illinois chapter…
* Back to last April…
Five months ago, when Illinois schools Superintendent Carmen Ayala learned students were being repeatedly shut inside small rooms alone as punishment and physically held down on the floor, she said she cried. She vowed it would never happen again.
But Illinois State Board of Education officials negotiated with a key legislative rule-making committee to allow schools to use prone restraint for one more school year, aiming to phase out its use by July 2021. The decision last week came after a few small schools — including one whose advisory board includes state lawmakers — mounted letter-writing campaigns and direct appeals to government leaders. […]
At least 101 of the 149 letters that advocated keeping prone restraint — nearly 70% — came from two private schools, Giant Steps and Marklund Day School, and the A.E.R.O Special Education Cooperative, a public school.
“As a staff member at Marklund Day School, I have personally performed a safe prone restraint more times than I can count,” began each of the 350-word letters that about 30 employees of Marklund, a suburban school for students with autism, filed with the state.
The nearly word-for-word letters — sent by teachers, aides and other workers — urged ISBE to allow prone and supine, or face-up, restraints at school and touted the improvements shown by Marklund students with “maladaptive” and aggressive behavior because employees were allowed to physically restrain them. State enrollment data shows that Marklund Day School serves about 70 students. […]
Among those who advanced Giant Steps’ argument was the chief of staff for one of the Illinois House’s most powerful members, Republican leader Jim Durkin. The school’s suggestions were emailed to ISBE and the legislative rule-making committee by House staff, records show.
Durkin and five former Illinois lawmakers sit on Giant Steps’ eight-member advisory board, along with two lawyers. The school’s director, Sylvia Smith, said in a recent interview that she regularly speaks to Durkin and other legislators and has made building relationships with them a priority.
Almost all of the opponents are from Marklund.
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Open thread
Wednesday, Mar 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois-centric topics, please. Thanks.
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